Electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

Provided is an anion electronic cigarette that includes an atomizer ( 1 ) and battery assembly ( 2 ) which are electrically connected to each other. The anionic electronic cigarette further includes an anion generation device, comprising an anion generator ( 14 ) which is electrically connected to the control circuit provided in the battery assembly ( 2 ). The anion electronic cigarette causes electronic smoke comprised of high-density anions to enter the human body, which can help smokers to mitigate the smoking addiction and even quit smoking, while providing a cleaner a method of smoking. At the same time, when it is required to add liquid tobacco tar into the electronic cigarette in the present invention, it only requires opening the cigarette nozzle and pulling out the sealing pillar from the tar injection hole to inject tobacco tar into the tobacco tar cavity, which is fast and convenient and is not easy for tar to leak.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to patent applications: 1.)is anapplication for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 9,894,931, issued Feb. 20,2018, which is a U.S. National Stage Entry of Patent Cooperation TreatyApplication No. PCT/CN2012/073089, filed Mar. 26 27, 2012and 2.), whichclaims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN201120476199.7,filed Nov. 25, 2011. Each of the above cited applications claims thebenefit of the Nov. 25, 2011 priority date. Furthermore, each of theabove cited applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein asif fully set forth in its their entirety.

More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S.Pat. No. 9,894,931. The reissue applications are Ser. No. 16/787,424(the present reissue application), and continuation reissue applicationSer. No. 17/337,916.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an electronic cigarette, more particularly toAn an anion electronic cigarette capable of generating a large number ofanions and to an improved atomizer convenient for the addition oftobacco tar.

BACKGROUND

At present, it is well known that electronic cigarette consists of anatomizer and a battery assembly, the atomizer consists mainly of anatomizing chamber, a tobacco tar storage cup, a sealing cover, a steeltube shell and a holder, however, when liquid tobacco tar is added tothe electronic cigarette having such a structure, the shell must beremoved at first, and then the tobacco tar storage cup is taken off foradding the liquid tobacco tar, this way is extremely complex and liableto cause tobacco tar leakage, hence, its use is quite inconvenient.

Moreover, most of people who smoke electronic cigarettes smoked generalcigarettes in the past, vast harmful substances have been deposited intheir body, electronic cigarettes could not help these people quitsmoking even if they are capable of replacing common cigarettestemporarily, as a result, further improvement on the function ofelectronic cigarettes is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the defects in the prior art, in a first aspect of theinvention provides An anion electronic cigarette, the an electroniccigarette is provided with an anion generator therein, so a large numberof anions are inhaled by people who smoke the electronic cigarette, thuscontributing to the removal of harmful substances in the human body andassisting the smoker in resisting smoke temptation and even quittingsmokingMeanwhile,. In a second aspect of the invention the animprovement on the structure of the atomizer leads to more convenientaddition of tobacco tar and low possibility of tobacco tar leakage.

In order to achieve the above objective, the invention adopts thetechnical proposal as follows:

An anion electronic cigarette comprises an atomizer and a batteryassembly that are electrically connected with each other, and furthercomprises an anion generation device that comprises an anion generatorand a control circuit, the anion generator is arranged on an electronicsmoke flow channel and is electrically connected with the controlcircuit arranged inside the battery assembly.

Wherein,The improvement on the structure of the atomizer comprises:

an ergonomic holder, the holder is internally provided with a hollowcavity, a smoke guide sleeve is fixed in the hollow cavity in theholder, and the smoke guide sleeve is provided with sealing cylinders(41) extending downwards;

an upper sealing ring, the upper sealing ring is provided with an axialthrough hole, the upper plate surface of the upper sealing ring isprovided with an annular protrusion which is coaxial with the throughhole, the annular protrusion is in coaxial airtight fit with the lowerend of the through hole of the smoke guide sleeve, injection holes arearranged on the outside plate surface of the annular protrusion, theinjection holes are in fluid-tight fit with the sealing cylinders; andthe side surface of the sealing ring is provided with a sealing gasket;

a smoke generation device, the smoke generation device consists of anatomizing cover, a tobacco tar guide rope, a heating wire and anatomizing cup, an integrated smoke guide tube is arranged on the upperend of the atomizing cover and is internally communicated with thecover, the atomizing cover is respectively provided with a groove at thetwo sides in the diameter direction; an annular protrusion is arrangedon the middle-upper part of the atomizing cup, the wall of the atomizingcup is respectively provided, in the diameter direction, with groovescapable of holding the tobacco tar guide rope, the atomizing cup issleeved, above the annular protrusion, into the atomizing cover to forman atomizing hollow cavity, the groove is corresponding to the groove inposition, the tobacco tar guide rope passes through the heating wire andthen is arranged in the groove and the end tip of the rope extends outof the atomizing hollow cavity; and the heating wire is electricallyconnected with the battery assembly (2);

a lower sealing ring, the sealing ring is provided with a through holein fluid-tight fit with the lower end of the atomizing cup, a groove infit with the annular protrusion of the atomizing cup is arranged on theupper end face of the sealing ring, and a sealing gasket is arranged atthe outer side of the lower sealing ring;

a smoke guide tube, one end of the smoke guide tube is connected withthe lower end of the through hole of the upper sealing ring in anairtight fit manner, and the other end is connected with the smoke guidetube on the upper end of the atomizing cover in an airtight fit mannerand supports the upper sealing ring and the atomizing cover;

an atomizer shell, the upper end of the straight barrel-shaped atomizershell is in fit connection with the holder; the upper sealing ring, thesmoke guide tube, the smoke generation device and the lower sealing ringare accommodated in the hollow cavity inside the shell to form anelectronic cigarette atomizer, the upper sealing ring and the lowersealing ring form an electronic cigarette tobacco tar cavity togetherwith the hollow cavity inside the shell, and smoke inlet holes arearranged on the side surfaces of the lower end of the atomizer shell.

The anion generator is arranged on a smoke channel on the bottom of theelectronic cigarette atomizer, and a smoke flow passes through the aniongenerator before entering the atomizer, so as to generate a large numberof anions.

An annular protrusion is arranged outwards on the lower end of the smokeguide sleeve, the two sealing cylinders extending downwards arerespectively arranged on a diameter line of the annular protrusion, andthe upper sealing ring is provided with the injection holes that arecorresponding to the two sealing cylinders in position and are influid-tight fit with the two sealing cylinders.

A mounting portion is arranged on the lower end of the atomizer shelland is sleeved with a decorative ring, the decorative ring is providedwith smoke through holes corresponding to the smoke inlet holes, and twomounting bayonets are arranged on the two sides of the mounting portionand are used for the connection with the battery assembly.

The atomizing cup is made of a ceramic material.

The heating wire is connected with an electrode contact plate via a leadwire, and the electrode contact plate is provided with electrodecontacts.

The electronic cigarette has a flat section.

The electronic cigarette further comprises a holder cover in fit withthe holder.

Since the structure above is adopted, the anion generator is arranged inthe electronic cigarette of the invention, high-concentration anionsenter into human body through electronic smoke when people smoke theelectronic cigarette, thus contributing to the removal of harmfulsubstances in human body and assisting smoker in resisting smoketemptation and even quitting smoking. Meanwhile, when the addition ofliquid tobacco tar is required, only the holder of the electroniccigarette of the invention needs to be opened and the sealing cylindersare pulled out of the injection holes so as to inject the tobacco tarinto the tobacco tar cavity, which is convenient, fast, and difficult tocause tobacco tar leakage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the invention;

FIG. 2 2A is an exploded view of the smoke guide sleeve of FIG. 1,according to a first example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the smoke guide sleeve of FIG. 1,according to a second example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the smoke guide sleeve of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper sealing ring of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the smoke generation device and the lowersealing ring of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the atomizer shell of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Detailed Description is made below to the invention with reference tothe drawings and the embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1and FIG. 2, a negative an electronic cigarette of theinvention having a flat section comprises an atomizer 1 and a batteryassembly 2 that are electrically connected with each other. Meanwhile,the anion Referring to FIG. 2A, in a first embodiment of the presentinvention, the electronic cigarette further comprises an aniongeneration device that comprises an anion generator 14 and a controlcircuit (not shown in the drawings), the anion generator 14 is arrangedon an electronic smoke flow channel and is electrically connected withthe control circuit arranged inside the battery assembly 2.

WhereinReferring to FIG. 2B, in a second embodiment of the presentinvention, the atomizer comprises an ergonomic holder 3, an uppersealing ring 5, a smoke guide tube 12, a smoke generation device 6, alower sealing ring 11 and an atomizer shell 13. FIG. 2B differs fromFIG. 2A in that the anion generator 14 of the first embodiment of FIG.2A is not included in the second embodiment of FIG. 2B.

-   -   The atomizer shell 13 is internally provided with a hollow        cavity, a smoke guide sleeve 4 is fixed in the hollow cavity in        the holder 3, an annular protrusion 42 is arranged outwards on        the lower end of the smoke guide sleeve 4, and two sealing        cylinders 41 extending downwards are respectively arranged on a        diameter line of the annular protrusion 42. (Referring to FIG.        3)

The upper sealing ring 5 is provided with an axial through hole 5, theupper plate surface of the upper sealing ring 5 is provided with anannular protrusion 52 which is coaxial with the through hole 51, theannular protrusion 52 is in coaxial airtight fit with the lower end ofthe through hole of the smoke guide sleeve 4, two injection holes 53 arearranged on the outside plate surface of the annular protrusion 52, theinjection holes 53 are in fluid-tight fit with the sealing cylinders 41;and the side surface of the sealing ring 5 is provided with a sealinggasket 54. (Referring to FIG. 4)

The smoke generation device 6 consists of an atomizing cover 7, atobacco tar guide rope 8, a heating wire 9 and an atomizing cup 10, anintegrated smoke guide tube 71 is arranged on the upper end of theatomizing cover 7 and is internally communicated with the cover, theatomizing cover 7 is respectively provided with a groove 72 at the twosides in the diameter direction. An annular protrusion 101 is arrangedon the middle-upper part of the atomizing cup 10 which is made of aceramic material, the wall of the atomizing cup 10 is respectivelyprovided, in the diameter direction, with grooves 102 capable of holdingthe tobacco tar guide rope 8, the atomizing cup 10 is sleeved, above theannular protrusion 101, into the atomizing cover 7 to form an atomizinghollow cavity, the groove 72 is corresponding to the groove 102 inposition. The tobacco tar guide rope 8 passes through the heating wire 9and then is arranged in the groove 102 and the end tip of the ropeextends out of the atomizing hollow cavity. The heating wire 9 isconnected with an electrode contact plate 16 via a lead wire, theelectrode contact plate is provided with electrode contacts 161, and theelectrode contacts 161 are electrically connected with the batteryassembly 2. (Referring to FIG. 5)

The lower sealing ring 11 is provided with a through hole 111 influid-tight fit with the lower end of the atomizing cup 10, a groove 112in fit with the annular protrusion 101 of the atomizing cup 10 isarranged on the upper end face of the sealing ring, and a sealing gasket113 is arranged at the outer side of the lower sealing ring 11.(Referring to FIG. 5)

One end of the smoke guide tube 12 is connected with the lower end ofthe through hole 51 of the upper sealing ring 5 in an airtight fitmanner, and the other end is connected with the smoke guide tube 71 onthe upper end of the atomizing cover 7 in an airtight fit manner andsupports the upper sealing ring 5 and the atomizing cover 7.

The upper end of the straight barrel-shaped atomizer shell 13 is in fitconnection with the holder 3; the upper sealing ring 5, the smoke guidetube 12, the smoke generation device 6 and the lower sealing ring 11 areaccommodated in the hollow cavity inside the shell to form an electroniccigarette atomizer, and the upper sealing ring 5 and the lower sealingring 11 form an electronic cigarette tobacco tar cavity together withthe hollow cavity inside the shell. A mounting portion 132 is arrangedon the lower end of the atomizer shell 13, the mounting portion 132 isprovided with two smoke inlet holes 131 and is sleeved with a decorativering 15, the decorative ring 15 is provided with smoke through holes 151corresponding to the smoke inlet holes 131, and two mounting bayonets133 are arranged on the two sides of the mounting portion and are usedfor the clamped connection with the battery assembly.

The embodiments discussed above are merely for describing the inventionbetter and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention,therefore, slight changes and equivalent variations made withoutdeparting from the spirit of this patent shall be contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An anion electronic cigarette, comprising an atomizer (1) and a battery assembly (2) that are electrically connected with each other, characterized in that: the anion electronic cigarette further comprises an anion generation device that comprises an anion generator (14) and a control circuit, the generator (14) is arranged on an electronic smoke flow channel, wherein the atomizer (1) comprises: an ergonomic holder (3), the holder (3) being internally provided with a hollow cavity, a smoke guide sleeve (4) being fixed in the hollow cavity in the holder (3), and the smoke guide sleeve (4) being provided with sealing cylinders (41) extending downwards; an upper sealing ring (5), the upper sealing ring (5) being provided with an axial through hole (51), the upper plate surface of the upper sealing ring (5) being provided with an annular protrusion (52) which is coaxial with the though hole (51), the annular protrusion (52) being in coaxial airtight fit with the lower end of the through hole of the smoke guide sleeve (4), injection holes (53) being arranged on the outside plate surface of the annular protrusion (52), the injection holes (53) being in fluid-tight fit with the sealing cylinders (41); and the side surface of the sealing ring (5) being provided with a sealing gasket (54); an smoke generation device (6), the smoke generation device (6) consisting of an atomizing cover (7), a tobacco tar guide rope (8), a heating wire (9) and an atomizing cup (10), an integrated smoke guide tube (71) being arranged on the upper end of the atomizing cover (7) and being internally communicated with the cover, the atomizing cover (7) being respectively provided with a groove (72) at the two sides in the diameter direction; and annular protrusion (101) being arranged on the middle-upper part of the atomizing cup (10), the wall of the atomizing cup (10) being respectively provided, in the diameter direction, with groves (102) capable of holding the tobacco tar guide rope (8), the atomizing cup (10) being sleeved, above the annular protrusion (101), into the atomizing cover (7) to form an atomizing hollow cavity, the groove (72) being corresponding to the groove (102) in position, the tobacco tar guide rope (8) passing through the heating wire (9) and then being arranged in the groove (102) and the end tip of the rope extending out of the atomizing hollow cavity; and the heating wire (9) being electrically connected with the battery assembly (2); a lower sealing ring (11), the sealing ring (11) being provided with a through hole (111) in fluid-tight fit with the lower end of the atomizing cup (10, a groove (112) in fit with the annular protrusion (101) of the atomizing cup (10) being arranged on the upper end face of the sealing ring, and a sealing gasket (113) being arranged at the outer side of the lower sealing ring (11); a smoke guide tube (12), one end of the smoke guide tube (12) being connected with the lower end of the through hole (51) of the upper sealing ring (5) in an airtight fit manner, and the other end being connected with the smoke guide tube (71) on the upper end of the atomizing cover (7) in an airtight fit manner and supporting the upper sealing ring (5) and the atomizing cover (7); an atomizer shell (13), the upper end of the straight barrel-shaped atomizer shell (13) being in fit connection with the holder (3); the upper sealing ring (5), the smoke guide tube (12), the smoke generation device (6) and the lower sealing ring (11) being accommodated in the hollow cavity inside the shell to form an electronic cigarette tobacco tar cavity together with the hollow cavity inside the shell, and smoke inlet holes (131) being arranged on the side surfaces of the lower end of the atomizer shell (13).
 2. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the anion generator (14) is arranged on a smoke channel on the bottom of the electronic cigarette atomizer, and a smoke flow passes through the anion generator (14) before entering the atomizer, so as to generate a large number of anions.
 3. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that an annular protrusion (42) is arranged outwards on the lower end of the smoke guide sleeve (4), the two sealing cylinders (41) extending downwards are respectively arranged on a diameter line of the annular protrusion (42), and the upper sealing ring (5) is provided with the injection holes (53) that are corresponding to the two sealing cylinders (41) in position and are in fluid-tight fit with the two sealing cylinders (41).
 4. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that a mounting portion (132) in arranged on the lower end of the atomizer shell (13) and is sleeved with a decorative ring (15), the decorative ring (15) is provided with smoke through holes (151) corresponding to the smoke inlet holes (131), and two mounting bayonets (133) are arranged on the two sides of the mounting portion and are used for the connection with the battery assembly (2).
 5. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the atomizing cup (10) is made of a ceramic material.
 6. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating wire (9) is connected with an electrode contact plate (16) via a lead wire, and the electrode contact plate is provided with electrode contacts (161).
 7. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic cigarette has a flat section.
 8. The anion electronic cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic cigarette further comprises a holder cover in fit with the holder.
 9. An electronic cigarette comprising an atomizer and a battery assembly connectable to each other, wherein the atomizer comprises: a mouthpiece; a sealing member having a through hole, a side surface of the sealing member having a protruding sealing gasket; an atomizing device including a cover, a guide rope, a heating wire, and a holder, the cover including an opening protrusion extending from an upper surface of the cover arranged at an inhalation side of the cover, the cover further including a first groove, the holder having a second groove, the holder and the cover configured to engage with each other to form an atomizing cavity, the guide rope passing through the heating wire and arranged to extend out of the atomizing cavity through an opening formed by the first groove and the second groove, the heating wire electrically connected to electrical contacts; a guide tube, one end of the guide tube fitting through the through hole of the sealing member in an airtight fit, and the other end of the guide tube releasably attaching to and enclosing at least an upper portion of the opening protrusion of the cover in an airtight fit; and an atomizer shell having an air inlet hole, the atomizer shell for holding a liquid, the atomizing device located inside the atomizer shell, the sealing member arranged at an inhalation side of the atomizer shell, the mouthpiece operatively attachable to the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 10. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically connect to the battery assembly.
 11. The electronic cigarette according to claim 10, wherein the electrical contacts are facing an opposite direction of the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 12. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, wherein the guide rope is arranged to be perpendicular to an axis of longitudinal extension of the electronic cigarette.
 13. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, further comprising an anion generator.
 14. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, further comprising a guide located in the mouthpiece, the guide including a protrusion extending away from an inhalation side of the mouthpiece.
 15. The electronic cigarette according to claim 14, wherein the sealing member includes a recess arranged next to the through hole, the recess configured to receive a portion of the protrusion.
 16. The electronic cigarette according to claim 15, wherein the recess is arranged along a longitudinal lateral extension of the sealing member.
 17. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, wherein an annular protrusion is arranged around the through hole of the sealing member.
 18. The electronic cigarette according to claim 17, wherein the annular protrusion faces the inhalation side.
 19. The electronic cigarette according to claim 9, further comprising at least one electrode contact plate including the electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are on a surface of the at least one electrode contact plate that is perpendicular to a center axis of the guide tube.
 20. An electronic cigarette comprising an atomizer and a battery assembly connectable to each other, wherein the atomizer comprises: a mouthpiece; a sealing member having a through hole, a side surface of the sealing member having a protruding sealing gasket; an atomizing device including a cover, a guide rope, and a heating wire, the cover including an opening protrusion extending from an upper surface of the cover arranged at an inhalation side of the cover, the guide rope passing through the heating wire and arranged to extend through and out of an atomizing cavity defined under the cover, the heating wire electrically connected to electrical contacts; a guide tube, one end of the guide tube fitting through the through hole of the sealing member in an airtight fit, and the other end of the guide tube releasably attaching to and enclosing at least an upper portion of the opening protrusion of the cover in an airtight fit; and an atomizer shell having an air inlet hole, the atomizer shell for holding a liquid, the atomizing device located inside the atomizer shell, the sealing member arranged at an inhalation side of the atomizer shell, the mouthpiece operatively attachable to the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 21. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, wherein the atomizer device further includes a holder, the holder including a pair of openings on sides of the holder in a diameter direction and configured to hold the guide rope, the holder and the cover configured to engage with each other to form the atomizing cavity.
 22. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically connect to the battery assembly.
 23. The electronic cigarette according to claim 22, wherein the electrical contacts are facing an opposite direction of the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 24. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, wherein the guide rope is arranged to be perpendicular to an axis of longitudinal extension of the electronic cigarette.
 25. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, further comprising an anion generator.
 26. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, further comprising a guide located in the mouthpiece, the guide including a protrusion extending away from an inhalation side of the mouthpiece.
 27. The electronic cigarette according to claim 26, wherein the sealing member includes a recess arranged next to the through hole, the recess configured to receive a portion of the protrusion.
 28. The electronic cigarette according to claim 27, wherein the recess is arranged along a longitudinal lateral extension of the sealing member.
 29. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, wherein an annular protrusion is arranged around the through hole of the sealing member.
 30. The electronic cigarette according to claim 29, wherein the annular protrusion faces the inhalation side.
 31. The electronic cigarette according to claim 20, further comprising at least one electrode contact plate including the electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are on a surface of the at least one electrode contact plate that is perpendicular to a center axis of the guide tube.
 32. An atomizer comprising: a mouthpiece; a sealing member having a through hole, a side surface of the sealing member having a protruding sealing gasket; an atomizing device including a cover, a guide rope, and a heating wire, the cover including an opening protrusion extending from an upper surface of the cover arranged at an inhalation side of the cover, the guide rope passing through the heating wire and arranged to extend through and out of an atomizing cavity defined under the cover, the heating wire electrically connected to electrical contacts; a guide tube, one end of the guide tube fitting through the through hole of the sealing member in an airtight fit, and the other end of the guide tube releasably attaching to and enclosing at least an upper portion of the opening protrusion of the cover in an airtight fit; and an atomizer shell having an air inlet hole, the atomizer shell for holding a liquid, the atomizing device located inside the atomizer shell, the sealing member arranged at an inhalation side of the atomizer shell, the mouthpiece operatively attachable to the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 33. The atomizer according to claim 32, wherein the atomizer device further includes a holder, the holder including a pair of openings on sides of the holder in a diameter direction and corresponding to a pair of openings on sides of the cover when the holder and the cover are engaged with each other.
 34. The atomizer according to claim 32, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically connect to a battery assembly of an electronic cigarette.
 35. The atomizer according to claim 34 wherein the electrical contacts are facing an opposite direction of the inhalation side of the atomizer shell.
 36. The atomizer according to claim 32, wherein the guide rope is arranged to be perpendicular to an axis of longitudinal extension of the atomizer.
 37. The atomizer according to claim 32, further comprising an anion generator.
 38. The atomizer according to claim 32, further comprising a guide located in the mouthpiece, the guide including a protrusion extending away from an inhalation side of the mouthpiece.
 39. The atomizer according to claim 38 wherein the sealing member includes a recess arranged next to the through hole, the recess configured to receive a portion of the protrusion.
 40. The atomizer according to claim 39, wherein the recess is arranged along a longitudinal lateral extension of the sealing member.
 41. The atomizer according to claim 40, wherein an annular protrusion is arranged around the through hole of the sealing member.
 42. The atomizer according to claim 41, wherein the annular protrusion faces the inhalation side.
 43. The atomizer according to claim 32, further comprising at least one electrode contact plate including electrical contacts. wherein the electrical contacts are on a surface of the at least one electrode contact plate that is perpendicular to a center axis of the guide tube. 